It's her only truly private space; her husband, director Joseph Blatchley, isn't allowed in, although a jacket hand-embroidered with peacocks belonging to his great-great grandmother lives here because it is "the most beautiful thing".

WHAT: His introductory line of hand-embroidered wool rugs, called Micrographia a reference to Robert Hooke's 1665 book of engravings of natural phenomena as seen through the new microscope, encapsulates what Mr. Sardar-Afkhami's clients love most about his work: haute historical references, natural flourishes and impish charms.

Before the lingerie windows of the uptown shops she often stood and studied; nor was she above taking advantage, when small purchases were made, of looking over the goods at the hand-embroidered underwear counters.